Know the 'Iron Lady of Manipur' - Irom Sharmila

As the world's longest hunger striker Irom Chanu Sharmila ends her 16-year fast today, here are some facts which you may not know about the ‘Iron Lady of Manipur’

Irom Chanu Sharmila. Pic/AFP

>> Irom Chanu Sharmila is a civil rights activist, political activist, and poet from Manipur who is known for her hunger strike for more than 16 years.

>> She grew up in Manipur and has suffered from Insurgency and intra-tribal warfare, including terrorism and government-sponsored violence, for decades.

>> She began her fast in the year 2000 in protest against 'Malon Massacre'. It so happened that ten civilians were shot and killed while waiting at a bus stop in Malom, a town in the Imphal Valley of Manipur. It was allegedly committed by the Assam Rifles, one of the Indian Paramilitary forces operating in the state.

>> Her primary demand to the Indian government has been the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA). She also vowed not to eat, drink, comb her hair or look in a mirror until AFSPA was repealed. The Act allows an officer of the armed forces powers to arrest without warrant anyone or even shoot a person who is suspected to be acting against law and order in an area declared as disturbed by the Governor in the north-east. The army enjoys immunity and they cannot be prosecuted.

>> She was arrested three days after her fast and charged with an 'attempt to suicide' but after that she has been regularly released and re-arrested every year since her hunger strike began.

>> She has only met her mother once since the start of the fast as seeing her mother's anguish may break her resolve. She said, "The day AFSPA is repealed I will eat rice from my mother's hand."

>> Sharmila was awarded the 2007 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights, which is given to 'an outstanding person or group, active in the promotion and advocacy of Peace, Democracy and Human Rights'.

>> The National Human Rights Commission has declared her as a 'Prisoner of Conscience'.

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1 Comments

Kamal Rajpal01-Aug-2016

It is vital that Irom Chanu Sharmila gets proper medical guidance on how to gradually come back to a normal diet, from experts who know the art and science of fasting. Breaking a 16 years fast may take at least 16 weeks or else it can be fatal. AYUSH or JNI Bangalore or similar organisations should be consulted.